CAM Professional Ethics & Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ethical framework judges an action primarily by whether it produces the greatest good for the greatest number?
- Deontology
- Ethical relativism
- Utilitarianism (Correct answer)
- Virtue ethics
Correct answer: Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism evaluates actions by their consequences, seeking the greatest overall benefit.
Question 2: A deontological (duty-based) approach to ethics would require an administrative manager to:
- Follow moral rules such as honesty even when breaking them would produce better results (Correct answer)
- Adjust ethical standards to match local customs
- Choose whichever action maximizes company profit
- Base every decision on what a virtuous person would feel
Correct answer: Follow moral rules such as honesty even when breaking them would produce better results
Deontology holds that certain duties, like truthfulness, are binding regardless of the consequences.
Question 3: During a reduction in force, which action best reflects the ethical principle of procedural justice?
- Announcing layoffs by email with no explanation
- Offering severance only to employees who threaten to sue
- Applying consistent, transparent selection criteria to all affected employees (Correct answer)
- Retaining only the employees the manager personally likes
Correct answer: Applying consistent, transparent selection criteria to all affected employees
Procedural justice requires that decision-making processes be consistent, transparent, and applied equally to all.
Question 4: An administrative manager is pressured by a superior to backdate a purchase order to fit last quarter's budget. The most ethical response is to:
- Backdate it but keep a private note documenting the pressure
- Comply since the superior bears responsibility for the order
- Delegate the task to a subordinate to avoid personal involvement
- Refuse and explain that falsifying records violates professional and legal standards (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Refuse and explain that falsifying records violates professional and legal standards
Falsifying business records is unethical and often illegal, and following orders does not excuse participation.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a professional code of ethics for certified administrative managers?
- To replace company-specific policies and procedures
- To limit competition among certified professionals
- To shield certified members from lawsuits
- To establish shared standards of conduct that protect the public and the profession's integrity (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To establish shared standards of conduct that protect the public and the profession's integrity
Professional codes exist to define expected conduct, safeguard stakeholders, and maintain trust in the profession.
Question 6: Which scenario describes 'ethical fading' in the workplace?
- A manager weighing stakeholder harm before acting
- Publishing an updated code of conduct annually
- Framing a decision purely as a business calculation so its moral dimension goes unnoticed (Correct answer)
- An employee reporting misconduct anonymously
Correct answer: Framing a decision purely as a business calculation so its moral dimension goes unnoticed
Ethical fading occurs when moral considerations disappear from a decision because it is framed in purely economic or technical terms.
Question 7: A manager notices that performance metrics unintentionally encourage staff to cut corners on data accuracy. Ethically, the manager should:
- Accept minor inaccuracies as the cost of high productivity
- Stop measuring performance altogether
- Discipline employees who cut corners while keeping the metrics
- Revise the incentive system so it no longer rewards unethical shortcuts (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Revise the incentive system so it no longer rewards unethical shortcuts
Managers are responsible for ensuring systems and incentives do not push employees toward unethical behavior.
CAM Professional Ethics & Standards 3
Which ethical framework judges an action primarily by whether it produces the greatest good for the greatest number?